Control switch



A. J. A. PETERSON Er AL 2,103,792

CONTROL SWITCH Filed Feb. 28, 1935 I 2 Sheets-Sheet Dec. 2s, 1937.

WITNESSES:

Dec. 28, 1937.

A. J. A.v PETERSON El' AL CONTROL SWITCH Filed Feb. 28, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l Wm l M O R mi. m y www?. a v f/ 75 275/ Jig:

Patented Dec. 28, 1937 AUru'rizb STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTROL SWITCH Vania Application February 28, 1935, Serial No. 3,666

5 Claims.

Our invention relates, generally, to control switches and particularly to switches suitable for mounting on switchboard panels to control the operation of circuit breakers, motors and other electrical apparatus.

The object of our invention, generally stated; is to provide a control switch which shall be simple and efficient in operation and which may be readily and economically manufactured and installed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a control switch having a greater number of operating positions than switches of the same general m type which have been used heretofore.

` A further object of our invention is to provide a control switch having an oscillatory oper= ating element for actuating the switching elements with means for releasably retaining the operating element in predetermined positions.

Another object of our invention is to provide selective interlocking between certain of the switching members of a control switch having a plurality of switching members actuated by a common operating handle.

A still further object of our invention is to provide for selectively actuating a plurality oi individual switch elements by both the oscillatory and the longitudinal movements oi a single oper-= ating element.

Other objects of our invention will be explained fully hereinafter or will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

For a fuller understanding of the nature and objects of our invention reference may be had 35 to the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:

Figure l is a view, in longitudinal section, oi a control switch embodying our invention;

Fig. 2 is a view, similar to Fig. l, showing certain of the switching members of the control switch actuated to the closed position;

Fig. 3 is a view, in transverse section, taken 45 along the line III-III of- Fig. 1-;

Fig. 4 is a view, in transverse section, taken along the, line IV--IV of Fig. 1, certain of the switchinglmembers being omitted for clarity;

Fig. 5 is a view, similar to Fig. 4, showing 50 the operating bail of the control switch in one of the operating positions; y

Fig. 6 is a view, in longitudinal section, of a modification of the control switch illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5, inclusive;

Fig. '7 is a view, similar to Fig. 6, showing the switch mechanism in one oi its operating posi tions;

Fig. t is a view, in. transverse section, taken along the line Vidi-Will ci Fig. 6; and

Fig. 9 is also a vier, in transverse section, taken along the line lli- IX ci Fig. 7.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to Figs. l to 5, inclusive, the switch illustrated therein includes a supporting frame lll that comprises a pair of end members li and l2 which are joined by side-frame members i3. A plu= rality or" tumbler switches lll are mounted upon the irai/ne members transversely ci the frame. in order to simplify the drawings and descrip tion, only three tumbler switches have been shown, however, it will be understood that the length of the 'raine il) may be increased to ac= commodate additional switches if desired.

The 'tumbler switches ld are oi the type shown and described in the pa ent to a. d. A. Peterson No. ldl, .dated November 27, i934, and therefore, it is believed to be unnecessary to describe their construction in detail in the present application. Each one of the switches li is provided with an operating arm l5 which is actuated by means oi a bail l5, having a lost motion connection to the operating arm, as is fully described in the aforementioned patent to Peterson.

vl'he switches lil may loe ci the single throw type and two or more of them may be so positioned on the frame members i3 that they are moved to either their closed or their open positions, respectively, by movement of their respective operating arms in opposite directions. Thus, a part of the switches lli may be closed by actuating the bail it in a clockwise direction from its intermediate or ol position and the remaining switches may be closed by actuating the bail i6 in a counterclockwise direction.

One end of the ball I6 is rotatively journaled in a bearing opening l1 in the end plate I2. The bail I6 is prevented from moving longitudinally by cotter keys I8 and I9 which are inserted through the bail on opposite sides of the end plate I2. An additional bearing support is provided for the bail I5 by cross members 2| and 22 which are respectively disposed above and below the bail I6 and are secured to the frame members I3 by screws 23.

The other end of the bail I6 is made square in shape and is slidably supported in a cylindrical plunger 24 which is journaled in a bushing 25, disposed in an opening in the end plate II. The plunger 24 is provided with square shoulders 20 lll for supporting the square end of the bail I6 and for causing thel bail to rotate with the plunger 2li when it is rotated by an operating handle`21, which is secured in one end of the plunger by a pin 23. Thus, the bail I6 may be actuated either clockwise or counter-clockwise by means of the operating handle 21, thereby operating the switches It. As shown in Fig. 5, the. bail I3 may be actuated approximately 45 in either direction from its intermediate or off position.

In order that the bail I5 may be retained in either one of its operating positions in which the tumbler switches I3 are closed, a semi-circular band 3i of spring steel, or other suitable material, is disposed to engage the bottom of the crank part of the bail I6. As shown in Figs. 4 and 5, each end of the band 3i is secured to one of the frame members I3 by a screw 32. The band 3l clockwise direction.

is provided with a raised portion or shoulder 33 which is so disposed that the bail I3 passes over it when the bail is actuated in the counter- The shoulder 33 thereby l functions as a stop or keeper for retaining the bail in its uppermost position after the operating handle 21 is released.

In this manner those of the switches It which are operated to a predetermined position when the bail I5 is rotated counter-clockwise will be kept in that position until the bail I5 is returned to its central position by means of the operating handle 21. A similar shoulder 3Q may be provided to retain the bail I5 in its uppermost position when it is rotated clockwise. If desired, one of the shoulders, for example the shoulder 33, may be omitted from the spring 3I, thereby making it necessary for the operator of the switch to keep hold of the handle 21 in order to retain the bail I5 in its uppermost clockwise position and to keep certain of the switches I4 in the position to which they were actuated by the bail.

In order to increase the number of operating positions of a switch of the type herein described, one or more tumbler switches 35 may be mounted lengthwise of the switch frame instead of transversely, as are the switches I4. The switches35, a pair of which are shown in the drawings, are of the same type as the switches I4. Each switch is provided with an operating lever 36 for actuating the movable contact members of the switch.

The levers 36 are individually operated by push rods 31 which are slidably mounted in a supporting block 38 that is secured to the frame members I3 by screws 39. The push rods 31 extend' through the block 38 and are actuated by the plunger 24 which may be pushed inwardly as shown in Fig. 2, by means of the operating handle 21.

In this manner the switches 35 maybe operated independently of the switches I4, as the bail I6 is not moved bythe longitudinal movement of the plunger 24 which slides along the square end of the shaft of the bail I6. A helical spring 4I is provided for returning the plunger 24 and the handle 21 to their normal position when the handle is released, thereby permitting the tumbler switches 35 to be actuated to their normal position by springs 42 on the levers 35. The spring 4I surrounds the shaft ofthe bail I6 and is disposed between the plunger 24 and a bearing member 43 for the bail I6. The bearing 43 rests on top the bail and is secured to the supporting block 38 by screws 44. A washer 45 is interposed between one end of the spring 4I and the plunger 24.

As stated hereinbefore, the tumbler switches 35 are mounted lengthwise of the frame members I3.

aioavoa One end of'each of the switches 35 rests on the supporting block 38 and is secured thereto by a screw t5. The other ends of the switches are clamped between the bearing members ZI and 22 which are secured to the frame members I3. The switches 35 are, therefore, rigidly supported between the frame members I3.

In order that the operation of the switches 35 may be governed by the position of the operating handle 21, and consequently, the positions of the switches Ill, a disc 5I is provided on the end of the plunger 2G for operating the push-rods 31. An interlocking pin 52 is mounted on an upright plate 53, disposed at the end of the block 33 and secured thereto` by welding or other means. The disc 5I is provided with a hole 55 which is in alinement with the pin 52 when the bail I3 and the handle 21 are in their intermediate or oi position, 'thereby permitting the plunger 24 to be pushed inwardly to operate the switches 35 when the switches Id are in their normal position. The pin 52 prevents the handle 21 from being turned to operate the switches Il while the switches 35 are being operated, thereby mechanically interlocking the switches IQ and 35.

As shown in Fig. 3, additional holes 55 and 56 may be so located inthe disc 5I that they will be in alinement with the pin 52 when the handle 21 is turned the maximum distance in the clockwise and counterclockwise directions, respectively. It will be seen that by providing the holes 55 and 53 in 'addition to the hole 53, the switches 35 may both be operated when the handle 21 is rotated to either one of its operating positions as well as when it is in the oi position.

It will also be seen that if the hole 55 is omitted from the disc 5I, the plunger 24 cannot be'pushed inwardly to operate the switches 35 when the handle 21 has been turned in a clockwise direction. Likewise, if the hole 56 is omitted, the switches 35 cannot be operated if 4the handle 21 is turned in a counterclockwise direction.

Furthermore, by providing an additional hole in the disc 5I in alinement with one of the push rods 31 when the handle 21 is in a predetermined position, the push rod will pass through the hole and only one of the switches 35 will be operated. Thus the design of the disc 5I governs the operation of the switches 35 and determines the position to which the handle 21 must be turned to operate either one or both of the switches 35.

The control switch may be mounted on a switchboard panel (not shown) by means of a mounting plate 51 that is secured to the end plate I I. The switchboard panel may be provided with f' an` opening of sulcient diameter to permit the cylindrical housing of the switch to be inserted through the opening and the switch secured to the panel by means of the mounting plate 51. A cylindrical cover comprising two sections 58 and 53 is secured to the end plates II and I2 by screws 6I for enclosing the switch Structure. A face plate 62 covers the mounting plate 51 and the screws for mounting the switch on the panel. The face plate 62 is retained in position by a collar 63, threaded onto the bushing 25. An opening 64 is provided in the end plate I2 for electrical conductors which may be connected to the terminals of the switches I4 and 35 by screws 65.

' A simplied form of the control switch is illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9, inclusive, in which like parts are designated/by the same reference characters as in Figs. l to 5. The tumbler switches I4 are operated by the bail I6 in the same manner as in the switch structure shown in Figs.

1 vto 5. The bail I6 may be turned either clockwise or counter-clockwise from its intermediate position by means of the operating handle 21 to operate certain of the switches I4 which are movable in opposite directions to either the closed or the open position, depending upon their normal position. The switches I4 are each provided with an operating lever I5 which is connected to the bail IE by a lost-motion connection, as disclosed in the aforementioned patent to Peterson No. 1,982,321.

The switch frame Ill comprises the end members II and I2 and side frame members I3 to which the end members are secured. A supporting bracket 1I may be secured to the side frame members I3 by welding or other satisfactory means. 'I'he bracket 1I serves as a support for a pair of contact studs 12 which are insulated from the bracket by insulating bushings 13.

An L-shaped member 14 is attached to the bracket 1I by screws 15 and serves as a bearing support for the bail I6 which extends through an opening 16 in the bracket 14. An insulating member 11 is riveted to the base of the L-bracket 14 and extends horizontally to engage the bottom ends of the contact studs 12, thereby preventing an excessive strain being placed on the studs when they are engaged by a bridging conl tact member 18, carried by the operating bail I6.

As shown in Fig. 7, the bridging Contact disc 18 is mounted near the end of the bail I6 and engages the contact studs 12 when the bail `I6 is moved longitudinally by pulling out the operat-I 4ber 18 from the studs 12 and to return the'bail I6 to its normal position when the operating handle 21 is released.

The contact disc 18 is insulated from the bail I6 by bushings 8| and 82 which are assembled on the shaft between two nuts 83 and 84. A spring washer 85 resiliently supports the contact disc between the bushings 8l and 82. Thus, an electrical circuit is completed between the contact studs 12 when they are bridged by the contact disc 18, as shown in Fig. 7, by pulling out the operating handle 21.

It will be understood that an additional independent circuit may be established by merely lengthening the shaft of the bail I6 and so mounting another contact disc 'I8 thereon that it will bridge another pair of contact studs 12 when the operating handle is pulled out to actuate the bail I6 longitudinally. It will also be understood that additional contact studs 12 and the disc 18 may be so disposed that one electrical circuit is completed when the operating handle is in its normal position and another circuit is made when the handle is pulled out.

In order that the operation of the switching member 18 may be controlled by the position of the switches I4, a curved block 86 is disposed at the bottom of the end member Il to prevent longitudinal movement of the bail I6 except when the bail is in its intermediate position. The block 86 is provided with a recess 81 which is in alinement with the bail I6 when it is in its intermediate position, thereby permitting the handle 21 to be pulled out to close the disc 18 against the contact studs 12.

Therefore, the switching member 18 can be operated only when the switches I4 are in the normal position and, furthermore, the switches I4 cannot be operated while the dise 'I8 bridges the studs 12 since the block 86 prevents the handle 21 and the bail I6 from being turned in either direction.` In this manner the switches I4 and the switching member 18 are mechanically interlocked.

It will be understood that various combinan tions of interlocking may be obtained by changing the location of the recess 81 in the block 86 .and by providing additional recesses or by removing, or omitting, a portion of the block from the switch structure. Thus, if it is desired to permit the switching member 18 to be operated only when the bail I6 has been moved in a clockwise direction to its uppermost position, the recess 81 may be located in the block 86 accordingly.

If desired, the spring band 3| may be provided for retaining the bail I6 in predetermined positions, as described hereinbefore, or the band may be omitted from the switch structure, which will permit the bail I6 to be returned to its intermediate position by springs provided on the switches I4. f

The control switch may be mounted on a switchboard panel by means of the mounting plate 51, as previously described. The face plate 62 is retained in position by a flanged bushing 88, threaded into the mounting plate 51 and end plate II. The bushing 88 also serves as a bearing support for the operating bail I6.

From the foregoing description, it is apparent that we have provided an improved control switch which is suitable for controlling the operation of circuit breakers, electric motors and other apparatus wherein a predetermined sequence of operation of the switching members is necessary for proper operation of the apparatus. It is also evident that the control switch herein described is simple and rugged in construction and will, therefore, operate satisfactorily over a long period of time. Furthermore, it is apparent that the interlocking mechanisms herein described may be used for numerous applications other than in switch mechanisms. They are suitable for the interlocking of rotary and longitudinal motions according to a predetermined sequence.

Since many modications may be made in the apparatus and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of our invention, we do not wish to be limited other than by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim as our invention:

1. A switch mechanism comprising a switch actuating bail rotatably movable in opposite drections from an intermediate position to a pluu rality of operative positions, a pair oi switches movable in opposite directions to an operative position by the actuating bail. additional switching means operable by longitudinal movementv of the actuating bail, spring means disposed on the bail for opposing longitudinal movement thereof, and interlocking means disposed to engage the bail for governing the rotative and lonm gtudinal movements of said ball.

2. A switch mechanism comprising an operating member rotatably movable in opposite direcn tions from an intermediate position to a plurality of operative positions, a plurality of switches movable in opposite directions to an operative' position by the operating member, additional switching means operable by longitudinal movement of the operating member, and interlocking means for preventing longitudinal movement of the operating member except when it is in the intermediate position.

3. A switch mechanism comprising an operating member rotatably movable in opposite directions from an intermediate position to a plurality of operative positions, a plurality of switches movable in opposite directions to an operative position by the operating member, additional switching means operable by longitudinal movement of the operating member,and in terlocking means for preventing rotative movement of the operating member while it is actuated longitudinally from its normal position.

4. A switch mechanism comprising an operat-l ing member rotatably movable to a plurality of operative positions, switching means operable by rotative movement of the operating member, additional switching means operable by longi- 

